
Launching ramps that are gently sloped, or trailers equipped with rollers result in less resistance, so you can choose a smaller winch. This rule varies depending on a number of factors about your boat and where you launch it.ĭo you typically launch on steep ramps? Is your trailer equipped with carpeted wood bunks instead of rollers? If so, the load on the winch will be higher, and you should select a winch with capacity closer to the actual weight of the fully-equipped boat. The general rule is to select a winch with a capacity rating of at least 3/4th the combined weight of your boat, motor, fuel and gear. Heavier and longer boats require more powerful winches with longer cables. Choose a trailer winch to fit the weight of your boat, motor and equipment.

Winches are rated by their weight capacity, not by the length of the boat. Your Boat's Environmentĭo you use your boat in a freshwater lake or in saltwater? Is the winch galvanized, zinc-plated, powder-coated or aluminum? Look at how many hours of saltwater exposure the winch is rated to survive. Using low-stretch steel cable to connect to the boat, some electric winches use a pulley or block at the boat’s bow eye to double the pulling power (which doubles the cable length and halves the retrieval speed). Larger models have a lower gear ratio to multiply your strength even more and two speeds for extra power.Įlectric winches use rugged DC motors, powered by the tow vehicle’s battery and electrical system. They also have a ratchet to hold the boat at any point on the trailer so it doesn’t slide back into the water, allowing a normal person to retrieve a boat weighing over a ton using a crank about a foot long and simple gearing.

Loading a wood runabout onto bunk trailer manual#
Hand-cranked manual winches multiply your strength, allowing you to pull a relatively heavy boat against gravity and friction. Two Speed Manual Trailer Winch with Strap
